Latest News in the Laser and IPL Beauty Industry

Epilation Cosmetology Industry News

Laser Therapies are better for hair removal,
says study
Filed under: Laser Hair Removal
According to researchers at the Baqiyatallah University of Medical
Sciences in Tehran, it might be more feasible to use laser therapies
separately rather than in combination to remove unwanted body hair.
The study was published in the October issue of the Archives of
Dermatology.

Study Highlights
a. This study was conducted on 15 people.
b. The participants were given 4 treatment sessions at 8-week
intervals.
c. Researchers compared the removal of hair on the legs of the
participants by using either long-pulsed 755-nanometer alexandrite
lasers (12- and 18-millimeter spot sizes), long-pulsed 1,064
nanometer Nd:YAG laser (12-millimeter spot size), or a combination
of alexandrite and Nd:YAG 12-millimeter spot size lasers.
d. They measured the average hair density with a hair counting
device and special software and assessed hair reduction by comparing
digital photographs taken before treatment and at 8 and 18 month
follow-up sessions.
e. It was noticed that the average hair reductions 18 months after
final treatment were 75.9 per cent for the 12-millimeter spot size
alexandrite laser, 84.3 per cent for the 18-millimeter spot size
alexandrite laser, 73.6 per cent for the Nd:YAG laser and 77.8 per
cent for the combination therapy.
f. Leg areas that received the alexandrite laser treatments had
higher average pain severity than those treated with the Nd:YAG
laser.
g. The highest amount of pain was in areas that received the
combination treatment, which were also more likely to have
hyperpigmentation.
h. There was no significant difference between the efficiency of the
alexandrite and the Nd:YAG laser.
i. The alexandrite or Nd:YAG laser systems, if used for at least 4
treatment sessions and with 8-week intervals resulted in long-term
results with acceptable and transient adverse effects.

B Ltd., Tel Aviv, has developed a new hand held
hair removal device that is meant for long term hair removal at
home. The product has been successfully tested on 20 women between
the ages of 32 to56 years, with Fitzpatrick skin types 1 to 5 and
brown or black terminal hair and is presenting awaiting FDA
clearance.

Highlights of the The Hair Removal Device
a. This is a pulsed-light hair removal device.
b. It emits wavelengths of 475-1,200 nm and fluences up to 5 J/mm2.
c. It is portable and lightweight.
d. It comes with an internal cooling fan.
e. It runs on regular household current.
f. It beams a self contained light pulse every 3.5 seconds.
g. It is safe and effective.
h. The Food and Drug Administration is likely to give it 510(k)
clearance by the end of 2008.

Highlights of the trial
a. It was tested on 20 women.
b. 7 women treated themselves under the axillary region, 3 on the
forearm, 5 in the inguinal region and 5 on the lower legs.
c. All volunteers self-administered 3 to 4 light treatments.
d. Treatments were given at 2-week intervals.
e. It was seen that there was a 40 to 75 per cent reduction in hair
growth.
f. It was seen that the legs and arms responded better than the
underarm and bikini region.
g. Hair re growth was higher on the legs.
h. None of the volunteers reported any complications or pain.

New hair removal technology tested positive
Filed under: Laser Hair Removal
A new ultrasound technology for hair removal has been tested and
results have shown that it can cause an average hair reduction of 38
per cent after initial treatment. Developed by Applisonix Ltd.,
developers of ultrasound based solutions for the aesthetic market,
this breakthrough technology, Impressa, can offer long-term hair
removal solutions. The first device to be powered by this technology
is Selectif.

Highlights of the new procedure
a. This procedure uses the proprietary IMPRESA technology.
b. With an ultrasonic head, the acoustic energy is focused directly
into the hair shaft, channeling ultrasound energy precisely to the
hair root, where the energy is converted into heat.
c. The temperature of the hair root rapidly exceeds the level that
is required to cause long-term damage to hair re-growth.
d. The surrounding skin is not affected.
e. It can be used on both men and women.
f. It is safe and effective.
g. It is comparatively less painful and cost effective.
h. It can be applied to all hair and skin tones.
i. It does not have any side effects and can be used on any part of
the body.

Highlights of the test
a. This test was conducted on 36 people, both men and women.
b. Participants had different hair and skin tones.
c. On an average, there was a 38 per cent hair reduction compared to
the controlled area, which was not treated.

Dark skinned people now have a new laser option
for removing unwanted hair. The CoolGlide CV Laser Hair Removal
system from Cutera improves upon the disadvantages associated with
most laser procedures like scarring and discoloration. This is the
first laser cleared by the FDA for permanent reduction of hair in
patients of all skin types.

Major Advantages
a. 1064 nm wavelength with the 10 mm spot size provides better
penetration.
b. It targets the hair follicles without harming the epidermis.
c. It is particularly effective on men & women with dark skin.
d. It can treat large as well as small areas.
e. The unique power supply maximizes pulse width and repetition rate
across the whole area that is to be treated.
f. It has a gold-plated copper cooling which is highly effective in
cooling down the skin.
g. It can be safely used by patients suffering from
Psuedo-Folliculitis Barbae (PFB).
h. This laser is used for permanent hair reduction, skin
rejuvenation and vascular conditions.
i. This is the first laser for permanent hair reduction on all skin
types.
j. It improves skin texture and reduces fine lines and pore size.

Disadvantage
Repeated treatments are often required for permanent removal of
unwanted hair.

Cost
Prices range from $75 per session to $500 for an area.

Unwanted body hair is a great embarrassment.
Women try waxing, threading and shaving to get rid of hair on their
face, body and legs. However, it is very difficult to get rid of
hair permanently. Laser hair removal is a relatively new technique
offering a permanent effect. According to the American Society of
Plastic Surgeons, laser hair removal is gaining popularity because
it is quick, less invasive and less painful.

Major Benefits
a. Laser hair removal is a minimally invasive hair removal
procedure.
b. This procedure injures the follicles of several hairs at once so
that future growth is limited or destroyed.
c. Low-energy lasers are used for the procedure.
e. This method is more effective on people with light skin and dark
hair.
e. However, possible side effects are burns and blisters if the
laser energy is too high.
f. Another side effect is excess hair growth if the laser energy is
too low.
g. Allergic reactions to numbing agents used during the procedure
can lead to serious hazards and even death.
h. Laser hair removal is more effective if done four to eight times
and can cost anything between $300 to $500 / session for an upper
lip treatment and $200 to $300 / session for a full leg treatment.
j. Women should always select an experienced practitioner to have
their hair removal to avoid the risk of scarring.

Pulsed light hair removal system; superior to existing laser
therapies
Filed under: Laser Hair Removal
Though there are a number of hair removal procedures available, each
have their own side effects and are lagging behind in terms of
giving satisfactory results to patients. A new light therapy called
'Pulsed light therapy' is said to be a perfect procedure to remove
hair regardless of the skin type.

Procedure Highlights
a. Pulsed light therapy is highly accurate and less harmful to skin
and surrounding tissues, compared to laser hair removal treatment.
This is because; the physician can choose energy level, wave length
and time frame.
b. The mechanism in the hand piece, cools the area treated, thus,
making the treatment a pleasant experience.
c. The light therapy can successfully remove hair from the upper
lip, neck, face, underarms, legs, bikini line and chest.
d. Price varies, according to area of hair to be removed. removal.
Some clinics offering this procedure offer a no-interest plan and
other financing schemes.
e. The patient sees about 20% reduction in hairs.
f. Patients are advised to space 6-8 weeks before each treatment.
f. The side effects of Pulsed light therapy are very few and there
are no complications such as burning, developing hyper pigmentation,
which are associated with laser treatment.

Experimenting With the Laser:
Introduced in the mid-1990s, laser treatment promised permanent hair
removal, but at a steep price.

According to dermatologist Dr. Doris Day, a doctor's office
treatment can cost anywhere from $100 to $150 per visit, meaning up
to $3,000 for comprehensive treatment, depending on the surface
area.

Performed by a doctor or a trained esthetician, high-intensity light
is directed at the skin to destroy the hair follicle.

But the FDA has now made doctor visits optional by approving two
at-home products. Both cost less than $1,000 and promise safe and
permanent hair removal.

According to Day, the lasers work best on people with light skin and
dark hair and are not approved for use on the face.

"The FDA approved it's safe," she said, "but I believe it should be
done with medical assistance. The risks of any device are burning,
redness, even scarring if done inappropriately."

Worley braved the potential hazards and to conduct her experiment,
she used each laser every two to three weeks.